Nurses ask province to prioritize mental health initiatives

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – BC Nurses Union Vice President Christine Sorensen delivered 4,500 postcards to Victoria today in an effort to raise awareness about mental health initiatives. The postcards were signed by British Columbians who are demanding increased services and were given to Premier Christy Clark as well as Health Minister Terry Lake.

Sorensen is calling on the province to develop a long-term strategy on mental healthcare.

“We’re already seeing crises across the system. We need to ensure there are resources across the province in our rural and remote communities and even in our large and metropolitan areas, where people are placed on long wait lists before they can get the mental health services they need. We’d like the provincial government to engage in a conversation with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive mental health strategy for all citizens in BC Really, there is no other model out there that we need to follow. We really need to be a leader in this area.”

Sorensen adds more could be done with regards to educating people about the issue.

“We need to end the stigma around mental illness so that people suffering from mental illness will be able to come forward comfortably within their family, their friends and within the healthcare system to say that they need help.”

The union says nurses will struggle to provide safe patient care if action isn’t taken.

Health Minister Terry Lake says mental health initiatives are a big priority for the government, and the ministry is already working on an action plan.

“We’re building the new Royal Columbian Hospital with mental health beds, the Joseph and Rosalie Siegal Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, and I just spoke with the federal health minister last week about more supports the federal government can invest in home care and mental health supports in the community.”

Lake adds efforts are underway across the province, not just Metro Vancouver, to address mental health concerns but there’s still more work to do.

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